What is a Transforaminal Injection?

Learn how a Transforaminal Injection can relieve pain

What is a Transforaminal Injection?

A transforaminal injection injects a long-acting steroid into the foramen – an opening at the side of the spine where the nerve roots exit. The medication goes into the epidural space just outside the spinal canal. This injection is intended to reduce the swelling and inflammation of nerve roots and surrounding tissue, which ultimately reduces pain, numbness, and other irritating symptoms. It some cases, the injection is used to locate a specific spinal nerve root as the source of back pain.

Am I a good candidate from an ESI?

You may be a good candidate for a transforaminal injection if traditional pain medications are not helping the pain; you continually experience leg numbness as a result of your back issues; you are not taking any blood thinning medication; or you do not have an active infection.

Used To Treat These Conditions

Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative Disc Disease

A spinal disc that is damaged through the normal process of aging, causing back pain and other problems.

Spinal Stenosis

Spinal Stenosis

How will I feel after the injection?

You may experience immediate temporary relief after the procedure that could last up to several hours. Once the numbing agent wears off, your pain may return. This does not mean that the steroid did not help. The steroid medication typically takes up to 10 days to begin having an effect in most people.